HoopsHype.com Rumors

Marc J. Spears: While DEN still expects to offer coach job to Hollins or Shaw,CEO Josh Kroenke & new GM Tim Connelly will discuss coaching situation tonight Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo

Denver Nuggets, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Josh Kroenke, Lionel Hollins, Tim Connelly 

In another blow to a quickly emptying front office, the Nuggets lost their in-house general manger candidate to the Sacramento Kings. Nuggets president Josh Kroenke said the team's vice president of basketball operations, Pete D'Alessandro, is leaving Denver to be the general manager of the Sacramento Kings. D'Alessandro was the right-hand man for Masai Ujiri when Ujiri was the executive in charge of the Nuggets' basketball operations. The Kings identified D'Alessandro as a leading candidate early in their search for a general manager and landed him Saturday. D'Alessandro's departure means the Nuggets probably will have to hire a general manager from outside the team. Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, Masai Ujiri, Josh Kroenke, Pete D'Alessandro 

Ujiri agreed in principle to a contract extension with the Nuggets, leaving only an out clause to be discussed, in case he wanted to leave for his beloved city of Toronto. "Had it been any other team to ask permission, from the Lakers to the Knicks, and they were throwing ridiculous money at him, I would have said no," Kroenke said. "Did I put myself in a difficult situation by being his friend? Of course." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, Josh Kroenke 

Although the direction of the Nuggets is in question, Kroenke believes his heart was in the right place. "Was I too soft with Masai? Part of me feels that way," Kroenke said. "But part of the way I am as a person, whether it's Masai Ujiri or whoever is in the front office, if somebody has a dream opportunity, I'm not going to hold them back." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, Josh Kroenke 

Upon being fired last week, Nuggets coach George Karl told team president Josh Kroenke, "I think I should tell you, I think it's very stupid." The controversial firing of the reigning NBA coach of the year has led to much debate in Denver. On Thursday afternoon, Karl sat down with The Denver Post and discussed an array of topics, including his firing, his future (possibly landing with the Memphis Grizzlies or the Los Angeles Clippers) and the future of the Nuggets, a team he believes could have won 55 games next season, even with Danilo Gallinari out for much of the season due to knee surgery. "I'm not going to stand here and justify my (playoff) record," Karl said, but he believed the franchise was on an upward tick, "and to blow that away, it leaves you helpless, speechless, powerless, sad, a lot of words." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching, Josh Kroenke 

Q: Can you describe your desire for a contract extension, heading into the last year of your contract? A: "I didn't demand an extension. I said to Josh, 'I will coach this team next year, I'm excited about coaching this team next year, but in the last year of a contract, there are things that could happen.' I didn't say they would happen, I said they could happen. I said I didn't think I deserved a three-year extension, but it's a signed contract (with an option), so let's compromise. I don't think I deserved to get my option picked up, even if we won in the first round (of the playoffs), but there's a middle ground. The thing that annoys me every day still is the fun connection we have with this team. They think they can unplug us and plug somebody else in, and I'm going, 'Wow, that is not respectful of the coaching profession.' " Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching, Josh Kroenke 

The Denver Nuggets have recently had serious discussions with former general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers Tony DiLeo regarding their GM vacancy, a source close to the situation conveyed to CSNNW.com. According to the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the GM search, says DiLeo is steadfast on a return to management and the source added Nuggets President Josh Kroenke has been pleased with how talks have gone and he considers DiLeo to be a serious candidate. CSNNW.com

Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers, Josh Kroenke, Tony DiLeo 

Ujiri, who seemed to have a cellphone surgically attached to his arm, received most of the credit — and the NBA executive of the year award — for the Nuggets' accomplishments since the Melo Drama. But, in truth, Masai was not the main man, but, rather, Josh's right-hand man. Kroenke ultimately was behind the maneuverings that began with his meeting in New Jersey with Anthony, who said he would not re-sign with the Nuggets and only wanted to go to New York. The self-effacing Kroenke hasn't gotten his deserved praise. Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, Josh Kroenke 

Toronto’s new GM Masai Ujiri not only got a $15 million deal, but took a broom to his front office, sweeping out all pro personnel people and college scouts. He’s looking to hire Bucks assistant GM Jeff Weltman to be his No. 1 assistant. Weltman and former Knick president Scott Layden were up for the Phoenix GM job that went to Ryan McDonough, formerly with Danny Ainge’s front office in Boston. New York Daily News

Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, Josh Kroenke 

How does a franchise that posted a NBA-team record 57 victories with one of the league's youngest rosters now find itself without a general manager and a coach? And what does that say about the team's future? The short answer is the Kroenke family has a stern belief in the way an organization should be run, that contracts won't be extended until they expire. And, despite the Nuggets' long run of regular-season success in recent years, Kroenke is far from satisfied. Some would argue that firing Karl was drastic, others would argue it was necessary for the long-term benefit of the franchise. Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Josh Kroenke 

In the end, Josh Kroenke was faced with a simple decision: Acquiesce to the contract extension wishes of his coach, George Karl, or cut ties and take the organization in a different direction. Kroenke chose the latter, and in a Friday morning news conference, the 33-year-old Nuggets president explained why. "We talked about our future, we talked about our different desires for the organization," said Kroenke of a conversation he had with Karl on Sunday. "We both sat down and tried to figure out the best ways for both of us moving forward. My worst-case scenario that I kept coming back to was we're obviously going to start next season without (injured forward Danilo) Gallinari, and it would be a tough situation to put George in knowing that he might want to restructure his contract already. Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching, Josh Kroenke 

"If he was in the final year of his contract and we start off slow, that would be an impossible situation to put a coach of that stature in. I have the utmost respect for George Karl as a coach and as a person, and I did not want to put him in that situation. I felt that although it was a tough decision, I felt it was the right one to make at this point in time for us all to get a fresh start moving forward." Karl had one year remaining on his contract, which had a team option for three more years. Kroenke wanted Karl to coach that last season before an extension decision was made, something the coach did not want to do. Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching, Josh Kroenke 

Benjamin Hochman: “I’m very confident (that Gallo will play at some point next season)” - Josh Kroenke Twitter @nuggetsnews

Denver Nuggets, Injuries, Danilo Gallinari, Josh Kroenke 

Benjamin Hochman: “I’m not here to win awards, I’m here to win banners.” – Josh Kroenke Twitter @nuggetsnews

Denver Nuggets, Josh Kroenke 

Benjamin Hochman: One reason why he didn't extend the contract of Karl: "I wasn’t sure the direction where I wanted to take the team long-term" Twitter @nuggetsnews

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching, Josh Kroenke 

Benjamin Hochman: Josh said Masai told him he didn't even need to consider matching the Toronto contract, because Masai’s decision was already made. Twitter @nuggetsnews

Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, Josh Kroenke 

Nuggets ownership was steadfast that Karl would need to finish out the final season on his current contract before rewarding a coach who hadn't won a playoff series since 2009. "I have high praise for the way Josh Kroenke handled this situation — he was always sincere and straightforward," said Karl's agent, Warren LeGarie. "And when it came time to make a decision, he made one." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching, Josh Kroenke 

Josh Kroenke was up front with Karl. He told Karl he didn’t want to put him in the position of having to order him next season to play the young guys if management felt that was the way to go, knowing Karl would balk because going young would certainly impact his win-loss record. Yet management remained firm that it would not give Karl an extension. “It came down to the point that they realized, if they couldn’t get anything done (with Karl), was there any point in going forward?,” the source said. “Josh was very direct, very honest. He was very, very clear every step of the way.” NBA.com

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching, Josh Kroenke 

Ramona Shelburne: George Karl's agent Warren LeGarie tells ESPN: "This was not the ideal situation, obviously George would've preferred to stay on. But I can't praise Josh Kroenke enough for the way in which he handled a really difficult situation." Twitter @ramonashelburne

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching, Warren LeGarie, Josh Kroenke 

Ramona Shelburne: LeGarie: "[Josh Kroenke] was always straightforward and honest & very clear about what they were prepared and not prepared to do." Twitter @ramonashelburne

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching, Warren LeGarie, Josh Kroenke